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Caring Sara is making a difference

Sara Griffin with some of the donations she has received. Picture: Elle Borgward www.communitypix.com.au d422704

Sara Griffin, along with her partner Glen, recently started the Facebook group Generosity Rockingham Area in an effort to receive food and clothing donations and pass them on to struggling single parents, families, elderly and the homeless.

She was only 15 when she found herself without a roof over her head and said drawing on the shared ’emotional knowledge’ of being homeless was one reason for wanting to help others.

‘I’ve been lucky, but helping less fortunate people does hit close to home as I know how those people could be feeling,’ she said.

‘It’s also therapeutic because I know what needs to be done to help people and also can pass on the experience of what I went through to maybe help them help themselves.’

The catalyst for starting the page came after visiting her partner’s aunty, who received a donation of unsold bread from a bakery and took it home to pass on to people who needed it.

She created the page that night and in the space of just four weeks the response had been ‘crazy’, with almost 400 members, countless donations received and more than 60 individuals helped.

‘I’ve had a lot of people who are not on Facebook and are struggling put on to me too,’ Ms Griffin said.

‘Friends of friends and random people have shown up at my door asking if there is anything we can do for them.

‘The spare bedroom is now dedicated to storing all the donations we receive because we get a lot of clothing donations but we are struggling with food and rely on donations to keep up with demand.’

She said she was unsuccessful in trying to get two of the local major supermarkets to help with donating food in damaged packaging, but was hopeful of receiving help from a bakery chain.

‘I’m just taking it day by day because it’s too early to know if it’ll grow or if we link up with other charities,’ Ms Griffin said.

‘We’re just going to keep accepting what we’re offered and helping those who need it.’